So curious and playful, goats are. I can’t wait to adopt a few myself. All in good time…

Anyhow, Jakers is currently staying with a newish animal rescue group in Dixon, MO. Just a short (!) three and a half hour drive from Kansas City, Dixon is located about 60 miles south of Jefferson City. But hey, seven hours round-trip is a small sacrifice to make when we’re talking furry friends, am I right folks?

Jakers is an easygoing guy once he gets to know you. He enjoys belly rubs and getting pets.

More about Jakers
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…but I’m sure his rescue people will talk your ear off about Jakers and his crazy antics, should you give them a ring. (Pssst! The number is 573-759-3400.) C’mon, he’s a goat! Goats are awesome!

Part of the reason I chose Jakers as this week’s Friend in need is because I also wanted to highlight Autumn Winds Animal Rescue & Sanctuary. Before this week, I’d never heard of the place. Judging from its website, the group looks to be somewhat new, having expanded its original mission of wildlife rescue and rehab to include companion and farmed animals as well:

We started out helping injured & orphaned wildlife, as Autumn Winds Wildlife Rehab, a non profit tax exempt organization based near Dixon, MO.

But we knew that there were other animals that needed our help as well. So, we decided to become Autumn Winds Animal Rescue & Sanctuary to become available to all animals.

We have gotten some of the paperwork back and are now up and running while waiting for the rest of it to come in.

Because we have a very small area set up right now to work with, we can only help dog and cats that are in the shelters right now and a few other animals, besides the wildlife.

In the future we hope to make larger areas for holding the animals until they can be adopted out, then we can help individual people’s animals as well as continuing to help the shelter animals.

Our Mission

As a no kill shelter and sanctuary, our mission is to rescue and offer care and rehabilitation for neglected, abandoned or unwanted companion and exotic animals.

Through proper medical care, socialization and love, many of these animals will find a loving home through our adoption program.

We still rescue and rehabilitate ill, injured and orphaned wildlife. Providing care and medical treatment until they are ready to be released back ito the wilderness.

Some animals, due to medical or behavioral problems, cannot be placed and will live out their lives here at the sanctuary.

Our mission also includes educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering and the humane treatment of the animals around them.

Given that there are so few nontraditional animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries in the Midwest – particularly those dedicated to the rescue, care and placement of farmed animal species – the possibility of a new group has me giddy. The only established sanctuary I know of around these parts is HSMO’s Long Meadow Rescue Ranch (located just outside of St. Louis); there are also a few smaller groups, the names of which escape me (and the googles) at the moment. On occasion, groups dedicated to companion animal rescue may take in the rare pig, horse or donkey – but more farmed animal rescue groups are most definitely needed, especially in the so-called “Steak Capital of the World.”

If you’d like to get involved, go to www.autumnwinds.org to learn more about the group and how you can help.